One of the biggest intrigues for the 2022-23 academic year is which Ben Simmons we will meet in Brooklyn. Nobody doubts the qualities of the All-Star to play basketball, but if he is prepared both physically and mentally after more than a year away from the courts. In Philadelphia we saw how he fell. He went from idol to villain (perhaps unfairly) and now it’s Steve Nash’s job to not only bring back the best version of him, but to make him evolve as a player.
To meet this goal, the coach of the New Yorkers has in mind to fully exploit the versatility of his pupil. We’ve all known Simmons as a point guard with the ball in his hands and running the game. However, Nash believes he has the qualities to be just as decisive in other positions and roles.
«I think he adapts to playing both base and center. He is such a complete, versatile and skilled athlete that I think he would limit himself by saying, ‘Hey, you have to handle the ball all the time. You have to create in attack all the time.’ That’s what’s so special about him, the many skills that he brings to the table. Yes, he will be a facilitator and act as a point guard, but sometimes he will also be the center. Other times he’ll just be that guy who plays basketball out of position, trying to create play in midcourt. So, for me, it’s just about playing with his strengths, which are very varied and will be present in the game », he comments on head coach according to NetsDaily.
Nash doesn’t close doors. He already knows what the base Simmons is like and what he adds from there. He also knows the tremendous defensive qualities of him. He now seems to be choosing to explore new terrain. Perhaps the young Australian player has been the victim in the past of a typecasting that has ended up limiting his field of action too much. Nash doesn’t want that. The two-time NBA MVP wants to see a free Simmons, one who will be a headache for the five rivals who stand before him. To achieve it will depend part of the success of the Nets, which of course are still pending the future of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
